View Article

Grandparents, relatives, and meaningful adults are taking on the responsibility of rearing over 23,000 Idaho children. Idaho has seen a dramatic increase in KinCare households during the last decade, growing almost 20% faster than the national trend. To recognize these special adults, the Idaho KinCare Project is proud to announce the second annual statewide children’s art contest.

‘My Family. My Story. 2012’ is a statewide art contest open to children in KinCare families—families in which a relative or other significant adult is raising children. KinCare children can compose a poem, write a short essay or draw a picture that describes how living with someone other than their parents has made a positive difference in their life. Entry forms may be downloaded from the Idaho CareLine 211 KinCare site: www.211.idaho.gov/kincare/myfamilymystory.html, or obtained by mail by calling the CareLine at 211. Entries can be submitted through May 31, 2012, and the top two winners in each age division will win a $100 prize. At the close of the contest, entries will be published in a book and distributed to all participants.

The contest is in its second year. Among last year’s winners was Hailey, age 8, who wrote, “I like living with nana and papa because they take us for walks because I’m special and cause they love me.” Cassiday, age 12, wrote, “On March 9th, 2010, my grandparents adopted both me and my brother. Now we not only have a family, but we have a home.”